Zanzarah: The Hidden Portal

I guess I've been jumping from one game to another way too much lately... but I'll finish them all, sooner or later. It's just that recently I'm done with my second term paper and I'm full of energy (but still a little lazy >_>) to get back to my favourite activities, and I feel like playing this or that. Also, this summer I'm going to play some old games I still haven't since I first played them long ago (like The Gift and Rayman series).
For now it's Zanzarah. I guess it's a bit too early, but I find myself coming back to it once in a while before I start to really miss it.
In the last few years I played it several times, starting with a different set of fairies every time to bring some diversity. But just following the plot isn't really interesting, especially if you've already learnt it by heart, so this time I'll be collecting the fairies, all of them :D It will be my second or third collection, because I don't remember for sure if I completed the first one...
So, the game is a curious mix of fantasy adventure, Pokemon-like gameplay and a shooter. I played it a lot as a child (with a friend, too), it's got nice music, beautiful locations and views (even though the graphics are quite old) and many different kinds of creatures, most of them are fairies, not all of which even look like ones, and some are really beautiful, in my opinion ^_^ There's not a corner left in this game that I haven't explored.
This time I chose Tadana because I haven't played with Oceana (Tadana's ultimate evolutionary form) for quite long.
(hearing of thorny bushes and boulders blocking the way) Why did it happen? Well, I guess developers didn't want players to go to certain locations before time :D (I'm being Captain Obvious)
Poor owl, the one that has been sent to the Catacombs...
What this game lacks is the ability to sell items. On the other hand, what'd I do with such an amount of money? xD To complete a collection, you need to train fairies a lot, and I end up with hell lots of medicine, healing herbs and money...
For now my collection consists of four fairies: Tadana, Worgot (I love Blumella, but right now I'm focusing on training fairies that evolve), Lana and Rasrow.
Quite many things have happened, but there wouldn't be much sense in describing them. I don't really do it here, anyway, only things in the plot that evoke some feeling in me or that I can somehow comment on. So, right now I'm in Lucius' basement (that's one marvellous basement... imagine if there was a Shadow Realm in yours xD). Manox to my collection ^_^ It could as well be Akritar (my fav, and even I don't know why, lol), but I caught him (it?) here last time. It's nice to have a dark fairy, but I once started with Manox and it wasn't particularly easy, as he has little HP, takes very long to evolve and you don't have access to dark spells until the end of the game. That's a shame...
The collection is actively growing :D I don't at all regret buying gold spheres. And here's Viteria *_* It wasn't particularly easy to catch her, but with Corgot it's quite possible at this state.
In the Fairy Garden there's a dwarf who can sell Darbue for 400 coins, while this fairy can be caught later with a Crystal Sphere that costs 300. So, 100 is the price of the effort of catching it. Or if you don't want to wait.
And now I'm going to one of the most beautiful places here - the Mountain World. And also here start the first harsh battles, or at least so it has always been for me. The nastiest fairies here, in my view, are the ice and nature ones, because they've got a lot of HP and by now you're unlikely to have fairies that are effective against them.
Either I've trained my fairies well or I've been lucky this time with my opponent's set :D (it changes every time you re-enter or load)
Tadana has evolved into Aquana, I'm happy ^^
The view from here is magnificent! Just as several years ago, I wish I could go there... but it's only a picture -_- Something similar with the background in stone fairies' astral plane: makes me want to go towards that horizon line.
Lucky again! However, I could still lose, especially if Clum used the spell that reflects damage on you.
I used to use Healing Herbs a lot, but now I rarely need to, as I try to keep all my fairies alive until the end of the battle (otherwise they won't gain experience, and the more serious the battle is, the more experience you get, so losing it is undesirable).

Garlan

Something's missing here... swaying of the ship, maybe? x) Cutscenes would look more natural with it.
It's a shame that one of my favourite cutscenes was spoiled a bit by lagging of sound... but I've seen it a dozen times anyway.
And here we are, in Ryudo's hometown. It's so quiet... no music perfectly describes the state of this village. Going to write down a lot, because most of the information here is useful for my fanfic.
"I just don't get it... Why is it wrong to talk to Ryudo? Why does Mommy... and everyone else... hate Ryudo so much?" I have the same question, kid. I know the story, and I still don't understand... weird mentality these people have.
I... didn't know Gallius had a wife. How come I had never talked to that woman before?
And I don't remember Gatta asking why Ryudo hadn't let him know before leaving. This and the rest of the dialogue confirms my version of what happened :)
Tio's Tornado seems to have caused some insignificant glitches... anyway, it doesn't seem to happen anymore.
It has suddenly become difficult... not really difficult, but more challenging. Those birds killed one of the characters and nearly killed another, I was shocked x)
This is it! We're going to fight Melfice (fun part). And defeat him (sad part). I'll try not to cry... although, it's not very difficult since it's nth time I'm playing this game (lost count).
"Words!? You sound more like a hen clucking! Actually, Skye... I should apologize to you too. Sorry to worry you so much."
Is that Ryudo talking? I can't believe my eyes xD Oh, Skye thinks the same:
"Did you hear that!? Was it music!? Was it an angel's voice!? Can we dare to hope to hear such humility twice?"
"She helped him... move ahead...? In that case, Elena is Ryudo's master. Is this not correct?"
I'm anticipating the reaction :P
"In that case, what is the relationship between Elena and Ryudo?" - "A good question indeed! Hmm."
(Captain Bakala) "Ha ha! That's it! Women should laugh. If you cry, you'll only drive men crazy..." especially Ryudo :P

Forbidden romance

Before undertaking a journey to Garlan, I'm going through all the towns again. In Mirumu Tio speaks only two times, but in St. Heim many lines have changed.
"Oh... is that right? Ryudo likes to snack in the middle of the might as well... I know all about it..." - "Hey! I only eat at night when I'm too hungry to sleep. Anyway, what does it matter to you?!"
This woman is something x) Already asked Ryudo, Roan and Mareg, and now:
"Yoo-hoo! Hi there! My, what a nice young fella. Want to spend a little time with me?" - "Haha! Ryudo, you are quite the playboy!" - "Hey, what do you mean? I wasn't talking to him. I was talking to you, on his shoulder!" - "Uh, me?" ... "Such a sharp, handsome beak, fine feathers, a forbidden, cross-species romance! What an exciting way to fall in love!" - "If it's a "forbidden romance," I'd prefer it stayed forbidden. Forever."
A second person with a weird understanding of romance in this town. That's what happens when standard of living is very high...
"Religion never appealed to me before. I couldn't swallow any of it. But now, I find it very calming to hear the sermons. In fact, I get so relaxed that I doze off. I sleep very well in fact, and that's been good for my health." - "Ha ha! I get it now! I understand the value of religion now! Ha! I'll have to attend when I'm not sleeping well!"
Every time they say the town's blessed and it's safe there, I feel sorry, because of what'll happen to it...
(Mareg said that the smell of this town enhances his appetite) "I've never seen Mareg without an appetite..."
(Tio trying to figure out where her heart is) "Chest... do you mean... here? I'd better look. Elena?" - "What? Hey, what are you doing? Hey, Tio! What are you staring at?!" ... "Oh, I wanted to check and see if you had a heart... Is something wrong?" - "Tio. It is considered, uh, impolite to stare..." ... "This is no laughing matter! I find this very embarrassing!"
"Was that "help the young new king," or, "exploit the young new king...?" Hmm?"
I've beaten Hemble 4 times and got nice prizes, but unfortunately I had to give up on getting the 5th one because otherwise I'd be stuck here for long.

Cyrum Kingdom

Well, I was exaggerating saying I'd see Melfice soon. First I'll spend some time talking to the townspeople, then meeting Hemble, then going to the castle, and behind the Gates... but at least I could admire his silhouette from behind :D
"I can't get my husband to calm down. Do you think I should make him pass out, maybe by taking a frying pan to his head?" - "Whoah there. I think that'd kill him..."
Look who's here! Gonzola and company.
"You haven't heard of the famous Gonzola Troupe and their 101 tales? Even Valmar dies laughing..."
"Oh? And when does this famous troupe go on stage? ... After the festival is done with?"
But I doubt there'll be any show because Risotto and Carpaccio have sunk the cargo xD
"You guys are gonna smooch all over town?" - "What? No we are not! He and I are not here on a date... Ryudo, he is my... my..." - "Umm, her date, actually. Yeah, and we're gonna smooch all over town. ...Heh. What's the matter, Elena? You're blushing."
"Are you still hanging around?" - "No. I'm miles away, sipping tea. Back off Captain Obvious."
"The girly-looking guy, their leader, I think..." - I wonder if she's talking about Gonzola. I wouldn't call him that, really x)
My, it's 7th Poff Nut! I'm not sure if there'll be enough Carros to give them to...
When Ryudo's with Elena, she restrains him from imprudence, and when he's with Millenia, he has to restrain her :D
Millenia and Paella, part two.
"Star performers? Ah, the Famous Gonzola Moron Troupe shall dance and sing for us. How lucky we must be!"
And Paella was just teasing her all along!
(someone to Millenia) "The design of your clothing is really amazing. It's... inviting." - "Ha! Did you hear that?"
(Skye to some man practicing his speech) "You flow about as well as Ryudo on the dance floor..."
This Carro is shining with happiness... literally :P
The Claws defeated, and... this moment has finally come!
Wow, I don't remember enemies ever cancelling my cancel attack like this...
Melfice took so long before attacking with Wailing Soul Slash that I started seriously worrying if my party died during this unwinnable fight... looks tough :/ I wonder if it'll stay so until the actual battle.
"死ね!" I knew he'd say that :D Unfortunately, this is about where my knowledge of Japanese ends...
Villains sound nice in any language... still, in my opinion, no other voice suits Melfice as much as John Cygan's *_*
"Lollipop Lane, Your Highness".
Roan has left, but now we have Tio in our party. For a change :)
"There's other stuff, too. Roan paper, Roan towels, limited-edition Roan cups, Roan tapestries, you name it..."
(Tio) "Songstress? What is a Songstress?" (Ryudo) "Someone who meddles in the affairs of others without considering the consequences."
"I'm Skye. My job is to guard and protect this hot-head from all the dangers his endlessly flapping mouth gets him into."
"I'm Ryudo, a Geohound. My job is to care for this half-senile old bird, and no - I don't know how he keeps getting out of his cage." ... "That's right [caring for birds is not what he does]. What I meant to say is that my job is to guard singing hens" xD